The Annunciation 

This miniature of the Annunciation was made by the Limbourg Brothers, probably in the early 15th century. The overwhelming sense is one of ornate detail, seen most strikingly in the architectural setting for the Virgin Mary. The composition is sharply divided into zones. At the top left, God appears in a blaze of color. Below and to the right, we see the scene of the Annunciation itself, framed by an elaborate architectural structure rendered with close attention to detail. Note the use of perspective, and how it creates depth. The artists also employ color and ornamentation in a manner that seems to challenge the very notion of spatial reality. The borders of the image are filled with decorative motifs: angels, floral patterns, and heraldic emblems, all competing for attention. The frame seems to spill into the central scene, destabilizing the boundary between representation and decoration.